.77 ERA in 11 road starts this season.

Theyre two rare breeds - 16-year-old boys who can see when they need a kick up the backside, and top AFL draft picks.Warrnambool midfielder Hugh McCluggage joined the first group two years ago and that should mean he becomes part of the second this Thursday.As recently as last months draft combine, McCluggage was the popular choice to be taken by Essendon with the No.1 pick in the national draft.Most pundits now expect the Bombers will take Andrew McGrath, but it will be a major surprise if McCluggage is not among the first few selections.McCluggage put himself in the top tier of draft talent with an outstanding season for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup and Vic Country at the under-18 Australian championships.He won the TAC Cup Morrish Medal, joining an alumni that features Dyson Heppell and Matthew Kreuzer, and earned All-Australian selection.Asked what was behind this years standout form, the 18-year-old pointed to two years ago.It probably started when I was 16, after the development squad with the Rebels, he said.I was a bit disappointed with my performance and I had to decide whether I was going to really pull my finger out and have a crack, see where I could get.Within a year, McCluggage was in the AFL Academy and had reaped the benefits of moving to a boarding school in Ballarat.This year, McCluggage has also come out of his shell, helping him handle the extra attention that comes with being a likely top draft pick.Rebels development coach Phil Partington has said they call McCluggage the observer because of his quiet demeanour.But the move to Ballarat Clarendon College also meant he had some growing up to do.Especially when I first came in, it took me a bit to find my feet ... it was definitely difficult at the start, he said.Its always hard, moving to a new environment.Its gotten a lot easier, now Ive had that experience at the academy.Moving away from home, it teaches you a lot about your character.You have to be able to fit in ... its going to hold me in good stead. 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Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. DENVER -- The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a win before a pitch was even thrown when reserve outfielder Jose Martinez captured a playful, pregame staredown with Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez.Too bad for the Cardinals that didnt count in the standings. They sure couldve used it.Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and the Rockies slowed the Cardinals playoff chase with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday.The Cardinals, who had won four straight, entered the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets and Giants both played later.Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1.Its a pitch that simply caught too much of the plate.Stayed straight, starter Luke Weaver said. For it to flatten out at such a big moment right there is disappointing.Weaver (1-4) was roughed up by the Rockies, surrendering seven hits and six runs in two innings. Before this game, the right-hander had allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts combined.The Cardinals had some early momentum when that standoff went their way just after the anthem.Heres how it unfolded: Estevez and Martinez stood near their dugouts -- with their baseball cap over their heart -- and refused to back down until the other moved first.Estevez blinked first and made a winner of Martinez, who celebrated before retreating to the dugout. Estevez said manager Walt Weiss pulled him in out of fear of being ejected.Its not fun to have one less bullpen guy, Estevez explained.Martinez was going to see this thing through to the end -- no matter the consequences.The umpire asked me, `Why you do that? Im like, `When youre a rookie and a big league guy asks you to stand up there, I stand up there, said Martinez, who had a pinch-hit single in the seventh. The most important thing is we have fun and the fans enjoyed it.This was a memorable day for Marquez (1-0), who made his first big league start after three appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed one run and struck out three.At 21 years, 212 days, Marrquez was the second-youngest pitcher in Rockies history to earn his first win, the team announced.dddddddddddd The youngest was Jamey Wright (21-206).A great pitching performance from the kid today, Weiss said. Its easy -- easy velocity. Very effortless.The hard-throwing Marquez was acquired in January as part of the deal that sent outfielder Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay. Marquez pitched a majority of the season for Double-A Hartford, where he was chosen as the pitcher of the year in the Eastern League.Marquez worked his way out of several dicey situations against the best road team in baseball. He allowed his only run in the second, when Jeremy Hazelbaker led off with a double and later scored on Kolten Wongs sacrifice fly.The Cardinals took two of three from Colorado during a series in which their starting pitchers were brilliant at the plate. Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Weaver went a combined 4 for 4 with two doubles and six RBI. Weaver had a single in his only plate appearance.DJ LeMahieu got two hits and drove in two runs to raise his average to .351. He holds a slight lead over Washingtons Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is hoping to take live batting practice Friday at Wrigley Field before the Chicago Cubs series. ... C Yadier Molina had the day off.Rockies: Third base coach Stu Cole sat out another day after being hit in the head by a ball that caromed off another during batting practice Tuesday.THIS & THATRockies catcher Tom Murphy had a three-run homer as part of a five-run seventh. ... Arenados grand slam gives him 128 RBI this season, which leads the majors.UP NEXTCardinals: After a day off, RHP Mike Leake (9-10, 4.54 ERA) opens a three-game series Friday in Chicago. RHP Jake Arrieta (17-7, 2.96) goes for the Cubs.Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (11-9, 4.13) tak